City Runner Article - What does it take to save the world?

By Poppy Patel   As many of you who read my articles will know, over the last weeks, I have come to work closely with the Millennium Marvels. I was there during the Blizzard and Firestorm incident and have reported on a number of their sightings since they came forward as an organised Super Hero Team within the wider Millennium City area. It should, therefore, come as no surprise when Lady Liberty, the voice and face of the Marvels (when Brick Wall isn't around) reached out to me after the incident now being touted as The Second Catalyst Event to try to explain their part in the world-changing phenomenon.   There is a device, used by Prescott Industries, called the PRISM. This device was the very heart of the reactor Prescott Industries tried to turn on, thus causing the first Catalyst Event. This event appeared to only affect citizens of Millennium City and the surrounding area. The effects, as have been witnessed many times, created Powered Individuals; men and women with often incredible powers, with some even undergoing startling physical alterations along with them.   The PRISM is still being investigated so, at this time, this report will not speculate on those origins or its construction. Safe to say, however, that it is tremendously powerful; dangerously so. Yet it's purpose remains a mystery. Was what happened to various men and women its true purpose, or was it a side-effect of a purpose we don't yet know? One thing we do know for certain is that we are not alone in this universe, but I will come to that in a moment.   After the initial Catalyst Event, the story of Scott Star's meteroric rise into the public eye again (if you'll pardon the pun), shortly followed by him taking on the mantle of Comet. Whilst he was there to do good, many were not. Amongst these Super Villains (if one was to give them a label), is a being known only as Janus. With the help of a mercenary unit, he has been trying to understand and utilise the PRISM for his own ends, even going so far as to kidnap the original lead researcher of the project and Silas Prescott's son, Grayson Prescott.  It is the understanding of the City Runner that no demands were made to Mr Prescott but sources inform me that Grayson Prescott had stumbled into irregularities within the accounts of the company, drawing the attention of those seeking to operate under the radar.     In a bizarre turn of events, Silas Prescott turned retrieval of his son over to Ms Catherine Carter who, it appears, got in contact with the Millennium Marvels for assistance.  The events that followed are a long and varied story, some of which, we have not been able to corroborate independently, so are omitted from this report.  One thing is apparent, however.  Multiple teams and empowered individuals were involved in trying to prevent Janus from achieving his goals, including Aperture, Interface, Comet, Phantasy Inc's Grimm  and Morpheus to name but a few. This all culminated in a showdown two nights ago in an unassuming ofice building in Little Tokyo, where the Millennium Marvels finally caught up with Janus and removed the PRISM from his person.   So the day was saved, or so everyone thought until something unexpected happened. During the exchange, there was a massive outpouring of power from the PRISM which reacted with Lady Liberty, thus unleashing the Second Catalyst Event.   If you've read this far, you'll recall my statement earlier regarding knowing we are not alone in the universe.  During her interview with me, Lady Liberty informed me that she is indeed not of this Earth.  She doesn't know her true origins as she arrived as a child.  One thing is very clear, however.  She and this device share a commonality; a connection that is impossible to define or understand at present.  Is it a danger to us?  Possibly.  Is she a danger to us? This reporter doesn't think so.  She stands as a symbol of justice and honour.  To put this into perspective, she refused to lie to me, even though she knew there would be repercussions in telling her story in full. Lady Liberty stands firm to those who will criticise her or her actions and she will face any threats that come her way. She has advocated that she is here to protect and serve the people of Millennium City and, if necessary, the world.  Recent events notwithstanding, which no-one could have foreseen, she has tried, along with the rest of the Millennium Marvels to do just that.    We of the City Runner will be following the Millennium Marvels very closely.  With this new age of Heroes and Villains well and truly begun, mettle will surely be tested.